Here’s Why Your Florida Blue Policy Might Have Been Dropped

Florida Blue writes on their blog that “this might be the first time that the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became real for you.” CBS Miami reported last Thursday that 300,000 Florida Blue policyholders that currently have plans that don’t include all of the 10 categories of benefits required under the Affordable Care Act will be dropped and need to choose a different plan. Many of those policy holders have received a letter outlining their options for maintaining coverage after the policies are officially dropped.

If you haven’t received a letter yet, you’re probably in the clear. The letter should also state the deadline in which the policyholder would need to take specific action.

Here’s a little background on why Florida Blue is required to drop those 300,000 policies. The Affordable Care Act requires that health insurance coverage in the individual and small group markets meet “essential health benefits.” Essential health benefits must include items and services within at least the following 10 categories:

1. Ambulatory patient services
2. Emergency services
3. Hospitalization
4. Maternity and newborn care
5. Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
6. Prescription drugs
7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
8. Laboratory services
9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
10. Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

As Healthcare.gov states, “Insurance policies must cover these benefits in order to be certified and offered in the Health Insurance Marketplace.”

But, Florida Blue says that there’s good news for those receiving the letter. “Unless you say otherwise, you will continue to be covered and will remain an insured Florida Blue member, with no gap in your coverage. But the choice of your coverage is yours to make, and we’re here to help.”

That’s right. We are here to help. This is exactly the reason why you used an agent to purchase your health insurance in the first place. So that you’re not alone when facing challenges like this one. Whether you’re a current client of ours who received this letter or you’re just looking for someone to explain what the Affordable Care Act means to you, we can work with you to figure out the best option to meet your needs.